The National tribune., 1887-02-17
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on Variety OF Interestins
Subjects.

ITO CorrespoHden,s.-Wri questions on a sep
arate sheet OF paper, give full name and address
and mark II Correspondents Column" No atten-
ton will he paid to communications that are not
accompanied with full name and address of writer
Our readers are requested to inelose n stamp for
reply To their inquiries. Postal cards will be
replied to by mail only Replies by mail will ordi-
narily be made within a week, and if in this COL
unn within three weeks.l
j. s. Mel, NcLeanSboro, ILLS n man who de-
serted during the late war and remained deserter
until the close thereof debarred from the rights of
citizenship; Is his vote void? AnsCer. See Sec
tions 1895 and 1897. Revised Statutes of the " y
81. l.. Mex, Riehfeld N. B.-No information can
be obtained by you from the records of the various
hospitals in which you were treated during service
They are in possession of the Surgeon-G General U.
>. A, this city, and such information as they con-
tain is always furnished to the Commissioner OF
Pensions. and in pension claim the applicant has
the benefit of all that the records show in his case
r. j., NOTtuiue, ". H.-An officer resigned about
one month before his regiment was mustered out
of service; the PaymasteT settling his accounts
charged said officer $50 for transportation Can the
amount so charged be recovered from the Govern
ment? ARSwer. Yes If his resignation was based
upon disability contracted in the service and in line
OF duty; otherwise. nothing can be recovered
j. d. b., HGterrRle, Hinn.-How long will IL be
after receipts for payment of bounty are signed be-
fore such allowance Is made? Ans,Cer. That de-
pends upon when Congress shall make an appro-
pration to pay the same. The report of the Sec
retary OF the Treasury will soon be made to Com
gress. and VIII probably include all claims
up to Feb. Is, and an appropriation will shortly
thereafter be made and the money available in
Il. O., Springfield, Vt.-If the bill lust passed by
Congress should become law would those draw
ing pension of less than SI2 be increased to ;hat
amount? Ansrer. The bill has been vetoed by the
President
G. III. X, Granrilie, ~ Y-Is a pensoner entitled
TO draw pension on more than one disability? An
swer Yes; In your case you are entitled to prove
up the remainder of your claim, and, IL disabled
therefrom, draw an increased pension for the disa-
bility of rheumatism. Your disabilities would not
be rated separately, but the combined disabilities
would be rated as one pension. Whether you are
are not entitled to increase is question can
not determine because 1t depends upon the report
OF the Examining Surgeon, the nature of which we
have no means of fascertaininR.
r. II. r., Eaton Cross Roads, Tennis a Mexican
soldier who Is now borne on the pension roll at 81
per month entitled to the increase of without a-
plication? 4nslVer. lie must make application in
the regular way. IL will give him So more The
Mexican pension bill only provides IS per month
and that only from date OF the passage of the act
Jan. 20 1857.
J. II. p, Big Rock, M-The State of New York
furnished = 39b volunteers for the Mexican war IL
Is not practicable to ascertain how many of them
were infantry and how many were artillery. We
can only give You the aggregate number.
T. L. A. Plymouth, O.-You are not entitled to
three months extra pay proper. because you were
not In service during the required period from
March, 3, 1865 to April o. 1865 only those who left
the service after the latter date entitled under
any circumstances.
d. g., RensseFaerriUe. " Y-The highest rate of
pension paid for total blindness any other disa-
bility Is s72 per month. There have been bills in
Congress to increase the rate to SOO but none have
been acted upon. and we cannot say whether such
a bill will ever become law. There can be no
pension sufficient to compensate u person for loss
OF both eyes.
J. b. w.. soldiers Home, " Y-You are not en-
titled to three months extra pay proper, because
you left the service prior to March g. ls65 No per-
Is entitled to the three months pay proper
under the act of March 3. 1865 or supplementary
act unless he was in service continuously from
March 3, 1865, To April 9, 1863 and was honoraby
discharged or resigned AFTER April o. is65 on ae-
count of disability contracted in service and In line
Of duty.
T. Q. W., Mchi0an.-It would not In our opinion.
require S2O0OOO.OoO to pay arrears In cases which
would be entitled, II said limitation was repealed
1t would be impossible for To give the exact fig
ures. though we should put IL much lower than
saO,OOO.UO We cannot now say what the prospect
Is for action being taken upon the bill during this
session of Congress. This Is q very peculiar Con-
gress. No man knows what a day may bring
forth, and vetoes are com mon as lying
A. Il. E., Darisoa, Meh.-Son was killed In the
army, leaving widowed mother who remarked
Her second husband having died, leaving her des-
ttute, Is she not entitled to pension by death Of
said son? Anst0er. No; because she remarked.
ID. q. L., Leipsic. O.-By whom are pension rates
graded; by the Examining Surgeon4 Anslper. No;
the rates are fixed by the Pension Office. The Ex-
amining Surgeons describe the disability and the
degree existing only.
j. O. ~, GradyriHe, Ru-A soldier Of the Mexi-
can war contracted disease while engaged In said